Mail-carrier for sea delivery service



w. GRuNow. MAIL CARRIER FOR SEA DELIVERY SERVICE.

MPLICATION lFILED OCT. 22, I9I9.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

mail carrier which is particularlyv adapted` WILLIAM. GRUNOW, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MAIL-CARRIER FOR SEA DELIVERY SERVICE.

Application filed October 22, 1919.

GRUNOW,

useful improvements in Mail-Carriers for Sea Delivery Service, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

rlhe invention relates to new and useful improvements in Inail carriers for sea delivery service, and more particularly to a inail carrier adapted to be used in the delivering of mail from an aeroplane or other flying boat to a vessel which is proceeding at full speed at sea or vice versa.

An object of the invention is to provide a mail carrier for the above purpose which is non-sinkable, upright, floating and water tight whereby said carrier may be attached to a cast line adapted to be thrown across the deck of a vessel from an aeroplane, iiying boat or the like, and the carrier then dropped into the sea and pulled 1n by the cast line. Y

A further object of the inventionis to provide a carrier of the above character which is provided with means for holding the mail matter lixedly at one end thereof so that the carrier will float on end and with a considerable portion thereof projecting above the sea level so that said carrier may be readily seen and picked up if by any means the saine becomes lost or detached from the cast line.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a carrier of the above type wherein the body portion thereof for the mail Inatter is closed by' a water-tight cover held on the body portion by a swinging bail which may be locked and sealed.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention Figure l is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing a mail carrier embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same: and

Fig. '3 is a top plan view of the same.

The invention is directed broadly to a Specification of Letters Patent.

, ing the cast line straight across .path and will, therefore,

Patented Nov. 2, 1920 Serial No. 332,555.

for use in connection with a system of delivering mail set forth in my copending application Serial No. 332,554, filed of even date herewith. Said system consists broadly in providing a non-sinkable, upright, floatingMtherefore visible-watertight mail car rier to which is attached a'cast line. This mail carrier is attached to some part of the framework of an aeroplane, flying boat or the like, which is equipped with a gun for throwing the cast line. llhen the mail is to be delivered from the aeroplane orflying boat to a vessel proceeding at full speed, the aeroplane is guided along side of the vessel at a height substantially on a level with the upper deck of a vessel, and at the proper time the gun is fired, thus shooting orthrowthe deck of the vessel either forward or aft. The rope is projected in substantially a horizontal pass beneath the wireless outfit in such a manner as to not in any way injure the same or injure the passengers, as the deck may be readily cleared to receive the cast line. las soon as the cast line is thrown across the vessel, then the mail carrier is released from the aeroplane or flying boatand dropped into the seayand said mail carrier may be hauled in by the cast line and thus the mail delivered to the vessel. On the other hand, when it is de! Vsired to deliver mail from the vessel to the aeroplane or iying boat, the cast line is in a similar manner shot across the vessel, one end of the cast line being attached to the aeroplane or flying boat. The mail carrier., which isy on the vessel, is quickly attached to the cast line and thrown into the sea and can be drawn into the aeroplane.

It is essential that the mail carrier shall` be capable of floating in the water, in an upright position, so as to be visible, and shall be also watertight so as to protect the mail matter, and to this endV l have proi vided a mail carrier which consists of a cylindrical body-portion which is hollow, one end of which is permanently closed while the other end is closed by a cover. The cover is provided ,with watertight means for engagement with the body portion so that, when the cover is placed on the body portion, the water is kept from the interior thereof and the mail matter thusV protected from the water. The cover is held onto the cylindrical body portion by means of a swinging bail which is locked by gravity the mail carrier.

the head 5%. Said Acover also hg" catches, and these gravity catches may in turnbe sealed seas to preventthe mail mat# ter from being tampered tvith. j

To insure that the mail carrier vwill float iu upright position and with a portion thereoi' projecting well above the Water level, lV

have provided means for holding the mail matter at the lower end o't the mail carrier and the amount of mail matter provided is considerably less than theinner'capacity oi closinghead for the lower end of theV mail carrier* lwhich is relatively heavy Vand- Weighted so as to counterbalance the cover and the parts associated therewith `for holdinothe same in place on the body portion.'

2le'lferring more in detail to the drawings, my 'improved mail Vcarrier Yconsists oil a cylindrical body portion 1 which` may be made of metal or any other suitable ma-V terial, the essential features being 'that it should be strong, rlhe lower end of this body portion is ior'medvvith a head2 Vwhich is Vpreferably y madeoi cast metal and7V as clearly shown in the drzuvings7 this cast metal-is oi considerable thickness so as to Weight down the lower end of thepcarrier and counterbalance the cover and parts associated therewith.

The upper end of the carrier is provided Wit-h a head 3, which has 'a water-tight con-v nection vvith the body vportion'and ivliichlis ably'cylindrical in cross section, and the recess is shaped. so that when pressure is applied to the cover, the gasket Will be sutli-V ciently distorted as to produce a vaten tight @seal and thus prevent Water from passing into the carrier. Y

rl`he inail matte-ris j alacedin a suit'a bag, indicatedat B the drawings7 and this bag is placed inthev carrier. Said bag is ot a capacity not to exceed to any extent more than halt the capacity oit the carrier. Secured to thecover 5 is a rod 7 which carv ries a dish SV adapted to hold the mail bag l at'the loiver end o' theA carrier.' rllhis insures that the Weight Vof the mail mattei' shall be `veli` below the center oit the carrierl so that7 when the carrier is inthe Water, will float upright and a considerable pon tion; of the carrier will project above the Water level. Thecarrier may be V painted White, red or any otherVV suitable color to ble 'attract attention so thatjii1 the mail carrier becomes lost or `disconne'cted Vfrom the cast line, it may be readily observed and picked up. ,A Y

The coveris -held onto the body portion l have'also provided a Vbail is oi'i such length durable and Water-tight.v

Y passes.

and is pulled in bymeans of the cast line.

oi the carrier by a locking bail 9. Extendiing` about thecylindrical body portion is a cast ring 10 which is fixed to said body portion. 'Said cast ring has projecting trunnions 11 to whichv tl e bail 9 is connected, and saidbail is secured to the trunnions by suitable pins l2. Attached to the bail cen'- Qtrally thereof is a double ended I-bolt 13.

also secured to the bail centrally thereof is a roller 1st. lt Will be note-d that the outer surface of the cover is dome shaped. The that, when it is sivung to a vertical position,V the roller 14 will engage this dome shaped cover and y gradually force the cover ontol its seat on the body portion, pressing the gasket `and forming a watertight oint.

rllhe head 3 is provided with suitable stops 15 Which limit thev swinging movement of the bail when in upright positioinand sliding-catches or dogs 16 operate'by gravity to engageV said stops and hold the bail in upright position with the cover locked onto. the body portion. Said gravity catches or dogs consist of suitable sleeves sliding on the bail on which the dogs proper are mounted, and each sleeve is Jformed With a slot .16 Vthrough which headed bolt 17 j Said sleeve is also provided With a projecting bolt 18 Yand the bail has a bolt 19 Which isdisposed Vadjacent the bolt 18 When'the catches orV dogs are engaged with the stops,and a suitable `Wire will be placed about the bolts 18 and 19 and secured by a seal. This prevents the mail from being tampered Vwith Without breaking of the seal. The cast line is attached to the I-bolt '13.. The voperation of my device will be apparent Vfrom the abovel disclosure. The mail matter having been placed in the bag B is placed inthe carrier, and the cover is'then placed onthe body portion of the carrier, the bail swung to locking position, locked and sealed. The carrier is then attached to the cast line7 ifthe mail is being delivered iroman aeroplane or flying boat to a vessel, and is mounted on a suitable releasing bracket carriedy by the i'rame of the aeroplane or flying boat7 so that the carrier may be released Vwhen the cast line, hasV been projected'across the deck of the vessel. This carrier may be quickly attached to the cast line if the carrier is on lthe vessel and in either case it is then thrown into the sea lt is obvious that minor changes in the de-V tails of construction and the arrangement ofthe parts may bemade Without departing fromA the'spirit of the invention as 'setl forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, ivhat l claim as new` and desire to secure by Let-` ters-'atent 1s`- 1. A non-sinkable upright :floating 4iiiail carrier comprising a hollow Vcylindrical body closed at one end, a removable cover for closing the other end of said body, means for locking the cover watertight on said `body portion, and means independent of said cover for permitting said carrier to be transported.

2. A noirsinkable upright iioating mail carrier comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion, means for permanently closing one end thereof, a removable cover for closing the other end of said body portion, means for forming a watertight connection between the cover and body portion, means for locking the cover watertight on said body portion, said means including a connection whereby said carrier may be transported without disturbing the connection between the body and cover. 3. A non-sinkable upright floating mail carrier comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion permanently closed at one end, a removable cover for closing the other end of said body portion, means for forming a water-tight connection between the cover and body portion, a bail pivoted to said body portion and cngageable with the cover for locking the same on said body portion, said bail including means permitting the transportation of the carrier without disturbing said connection between the cover and body portion.

el. A non-sinkable upright iioating mail carrier comprising a cylindrical body portion, a weighted head secured at the lower end thereof for closing the lower end of said body portion, a cover having a watertight connection with said body portion, means `ior locking the cover on said head, and

means carried by said cover for holdingthe mail matter at the lower end of said body portion. Y

5. A nonsinkable upright floating mail carrier comprising a cylindrical body portion, a weighted head secured at the lower end thereof for closing the lower end of said body portion, a head secured to the upper endy oi' said body portion and having a seat for a rubber gasket, a cover having a seat for engaging said rubber gasket, a flange iitting within said head, means for locking the cover on said head, a rod secured to the inner iace oi' said cover and extending to a point midway between the ends of said cylindrical body portion, and a disk secured to said rod and operating to hold the mail matter at the lower end of said body portion.

G. A nonsinlrable upright floating mail carrier comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion, a weighted head for closing the lower end oi. said cylindrical body portion, a head secured to the upper end of said body portion, a cover having a water-tight connection with said head, a swinging bail, said cover having a dome-shaped outer face adapted to be engaged by said bail whereby the cover is locked on said head, gravity dogs for locking said bail in upright position, and means whereby said gravity dogs may be sealed against movement.

7. A nonsinkable upright floating mail carrier comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion, a weighted head closing the lower end or' said body portion, a cover having Va waterftight connection with the upper end orn said body portion, a swinging bail, a roller carried by said swinging bail, said cover having a dome-shaped outer face adapted to be engaged by said roller whereby Vsaid cover is forced in water-tight connection with said body portion, and means for locking the bail in an upright position.

8. A nonsinkable upright lloating mail carrier comprising a hollow cylindrical body portion, a weighted head closing the lower end ot' said body portion, a cover having a water-tight connection with the upper end of said body portion, a swinging bail, a roller carried by said swinging bail, said cover having a dome-shaped outer .tace adapted to be engaged by said roller whereby said cover is forced in water-tight connection with said body portion, means for locking the bail in an upright position, said means including gravity dogs, and stops carried by the body portion to limit the movement of the bailV and with which said locking dogs engage for holding the bail in adapted to be engaged by said roller whereby said cover is forced in water-tight connection with said body portion, means tor locking the bail in an upright position, said means including gravity dogs, stops carried by the body portion to limit the movement of the bail and with which said locking dogs enga-ge for holding the bail in upright po sition, a rod attached to said cover and projecting centrally downwardly to a point midway between the ends of the body portion, and a disk connected to said rod for holding the mail matter at the lower end of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. 

